Craig Walker’s side showed their mettle after the disappointment of losing 2-0 in the county cup semi-final to Carlton Athletic in midweek.

Goals from Brad Waddington and Owen Wilkinson earned them a Shay date with Shelf FC on May 16 but ‘keeper Ash Rayner also played a key part with some fine saves.

All the goals came in the first half. A long throw from Ashton Richardson was allowed to bounce in the area and Waddington opened the scoring.

Gareth Gaukroger equalised from the penalty spot after Carl Maguire had fouled Phil Livesey but a superb free-kick from Wilkinson into the top corner, which gave Warren Gray no chance, quickly restored Ryburn’s lead.

Both sides were lacking their leading scorers, Christian Silkstone (Ryburn) and John Booth, and there was no addition to the score line.

Ryburn sat back in the second half and were grateful to Rayner. He denied Gaukroger and Joe Griffin, having saved Mike Gregory’s header from point-blank range in the opening 45 minutes.

Northowram boosted their hopes of a top four finish with a 1-0 home win over Hebden Royd Red Star in the only Premier Division game.

In a largely forgettable 90 minutes, an individual goal from Lewis Oldridge clinched the points for Northowram against a Star side with just one win in their last 11 games.

The first half was an untidy, goalless affair full of frantic football. The stand-out moment was a wonderful save from Rams’ James Bunn, who had to change direction at the last second following a deflection.

On 65 minutes Matt Calland’s flicked header reached Oldridge and he raced forward, turned inside his man and fired over the keeper.

He might have added a second while Red Star missed a glorious opportunity following a throw-in and had a couple of half chances as they pressed down the slope for the equaliser.

There were four games in Division One and title favourites Shelf FC won the most significant of them.

They beat fading Brighouse Sports 5-1 with a couple of goals from Josh Hans as they steadied the ship after as first defeat of the season at Denholme a few days earlier.

Denholme’s four-match winning streak was halted by hosts Ryburn United Reserves, who beat them 4-3 at Ripponden Wood.